Parents Claim Fla. Teacher ’Turned Student Gay’

A Florida teacher is i the fight of her life against her school district. She is battling the way officials handled accusations that said she had helped turn a female student gay.

Juliet Hibbs (who is herself a heterosexual) is battling the Broward school district, which includes Fort Lauderdale, on the claims. Last year, the (Ft. Lauderdale) Sun Sentinel reported, Hibbs, 47, was the subject of an investigation for misconduct after the girl's parents told Deerfield Beach High School Principal John Marlow that the teacher contributed to the teen's sexual identity.

The school district cleared Hibbs and no action was taken. According to the investigative report, in 2011 the girl, then 18, was in Hibbs' class when the student's stepdad began harassing her on Twitter because he had discovered that she was a lesbian. When Hibbs found out about the tweets, she reported the incident as child abuse and cyberbullying.

"As each message came, she got smaller. I watched her get destroyed," the teacher told the newspaper. When the girl did not return home, her parents complained that Hibbs should have told them about their daughter's orientation.

They added the allegation that Hibbs' played a role in making the girl gay and believed Hibbs told her not go home. But the report from the school district says an abuse counselor told the teen she didn't have to go back home because she was 18.

Hibbs, who has been a teacher for 10 years but is currently on medical leave, told the Sun-Sentinel that she was "shocked by the charges" and that the principal allowed the district to conduct such an investigation in the first place. She is now filing a case with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the school system, Marlow and the assistant principal.

The teacher says school officials should have handled the complaint and the investigation was Marlow's way of punishing her for being outspoken about school issues.

"My career has been ruined," Hibbs told the Sun-Sentinel. "Before Deerfield, I had an impeccable record." She has since reportedly suffered a number of medical problems as a result from the stress caused by the situation.

As for Marlow, he has been accused of intimidation before this.

During the summer, teachers spoke against the Deerfield Beach High School principal. There has yet to be a formal investigation against Marlow but Superintendent Robert Runcie said he would look into the issue.

Activists in Ft. Lauderdale's active LGBT community have rallied around Hibbs, and call the claims against her ridiculous.

"A teacher doesn't determine the sexual orientation of a student," Dr. Katharine Campbell, the director of clinical services at SunServe, an organization that works with LGBT youth, told the newspaper.

Comments

Oh Jed said:, 2012-11-15 09:33:21

One of the most ridiculous stories I’ve ever heard. The teachers allegiance and priority should always be for the safety, well-bring and best interest of the student. It’s sickening that an obviously dedicated and good teacher is going down in flames because of these Assholes. Geesh.

, 2012-11-15 14:18:36

That poor girl needs to get as far away from her idiot parents as she can. And if she herself has children, do the direct opposite of everything they did.

, 2012-11-15 16:20:34

Only in Florida.....

Alan, 2012-11-15 20:00:50

She was my American Government teacher in high school. She was an amazing teacher; very empathetic and down to earth. This situation is completely ridiculous.

Wayne M., 2012-11-16 17:50:01

Hopefully, common sense and good scientific knowledge will prevail and Ms. Hibbs will be exhonerated of these charges, but even if she is, her reputation will still be unjustly ruined. Such a nonsensical attack on a caring teacher should result in criminal harassment charges against the parents!

nick, 2012-11-17 09:33:32

All she did is call Child Protective Services? And THIS made the girl gay?!?!?!?

, 2012-11-17 13:39:21

If you want to know what God thinks of gay marriage and the homosexual lifestyle, the read about Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible. God wiped out the entire cities with fire and brimstone

, 2012-11-17 14:24:57

Can’t you read they were destroyed then not at a time of your chosing. 1 John 4:6 tells us how we are to discern the spirit of truth from the spirit of error...by listening to the leaders of the Church. "We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error."

, 2012-11-17 14:27:04

Matthew 18:17" But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto you as a heathen man and a tax collector. Note what this passage does not say it does not say to consult scripture it says to consult the Church. In other words if one fails to listen to the church throw them out.

Wayne M., 2012-11-17 14:28:15

I would suggest that those who love to take Biblical passages out of context to justify their bigotry that they consider modern independent scientific and psychological information on sexual orientation and homosexuality before spreading their ignorant and hurtful lies. As a Christian, I thank God that there are Christian leaders and churches who support the LGBT community and are building bridges of love.

, 2012-11-17 18:03:22

LOL "you would suggest" Talk about being a bigot . Sorry there is no biological or scientific evidence to support your clain other than science fiction.

, 2012-11-17 18:05:47

, How does the Bible say we are to decide the "spirit of truth" and the "spirit of error"? Do you know? Is it by individually reading scripture? No! 1 John 4:6 which says, "We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.". This is very powerful one should read and meditate on these words not just gloss over them.

Vassago, 2012-11-17 21:52:39

okay, I didn’t know that something so much against common sense can actually grow to an investigation. parents do wrong and the teacher doing her job gets investigated, ridiculous.

GT, 2012-11-20 18:09:24

Who is this closet nut spewing on and on about fire and brimstone? Get your head out of your ass.